NAB presents witnesses against Nawaz Sharif family in corruption references

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has presented two witnesses against ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law retired captain Muhammad Safdar in corruption references as the trial formally began on Wednesday.

According to Dawn, the two prosecution presented by the NAB in an accountability court - Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Joint Registrar, Sidra Mansoor and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Inland Revenue Department representative, Jahangir Ahmad - recorded their statements.

The court began proceedings despite the Islamabad High Court (IHC) admitted Sharif's petition challenging the accountability court's refusal to club three separate references against him and fixed November 20 as the date for the next hearing.

Yesterday, Sharif had challenged the accountability court's November 8 decision to not merge the three references filed by the NAB in the Islamabad High Court.

Sharif's lawyer Azam Tar had said that the court took the decision in a hurry.

The appeal filed by Tar stated that the replies submitted to the high court were not taken under consideration.

The Pakistan Supreme Court had asked the NAB to file references against the Sharif family in connection with their Avenfield and other properties on July 28 and directed the trial court to decide the references within six months.